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MenuHow should entrepreneurs divide their week?
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There's a bit of myth regarding time management in my view. That said, I think there are two perspectives to the answer - depending on your perspective in asking the question. If you're asking because you seem to be running out of steam before you get the work you need done in a week, I'd suggest your issue is not time management but either energy management or focus.
I've done a few blog/podcasts on this subject from that angle:
http://wisenapkin.com/2014/01/10/four-step-focus-man-dave-lakhani/
http://wisenapkin.com/2014/02/25/profit-favors-action-dave-lakhani-president-bold-approach-inc/
http://wisenapkin.com/2013/12/19/time-management-is-a-myth-michael-walsh/
On the other hand, if you feel like you work all day and are failing to get ahead on the key and important parts of your day, I'd suggest you have an issue with establishing priorities:
http://wisenapkin.com/2014/03/25/live-the-picture-jack-daly-speaker-trainer-coach-author/
http://wisenapkin.com/2014/02/18/defend-your-yes-jay-papasan-author-publisher-and-entrepreneur/
Make it a great day!
I'm a fan of Dan Sullivan's "The Time Breakthrough" as a starting point for entrepreneurial "time management".
After working with it for a while you'll find your own rhythms - the key to maximum efficiency and fulfillment.
Here's my philosophy, when you're doing something you love, that you're passionate about there never seem to be enough hours in the day...when you're not into it or passionate about it , you can't wait for the day to end. At least that's my personal experience where there can be day to variances and some days we all just need a break.
I think entrepreneurs should fit time for creativity and coming up with ideas, working on product, and making new connections into their week. Making contacts and connections is probably the most important thing...they're the most helpful. At the end of the day it's not always what you know unfortunately, it's who you know.
Then, at the end of the day you need to take time for YOU. Rest, watch a movie, sleep. That's usually when you'll get your best ideas, when you're not trying to have them.
There are an infinite number of books and articles on time management. Which method you choose is a matter of your personality, energy and industry.
Regardless, the concept of Zero Level is crucial to any entrepreneur. Every single day there are certain things that are non-optional in your business. This is your Zero Level. Once you nail your Zero Level, other action items for the week more naturally fall into place.
Read more at http://deborahtutnauer.com/entrepreneur-success-coach/zero-level/
Related Questions
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What are your tips to manage two jobs?
There is a legendary example of this: Jack Dorsey being the CEO of both Twitter and Square simultaneously. Yes, it is possible to hold two jobs. It's even possible to be the CEO of two billion-dollar companies. It's far from easy, but it's possible with an extreme dose of discipline and time management. I heard Jack personally tell the story of how he managed his time at a fireside chat he did in New York. The closest I can get to an online article that talks about it is this: http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/13/technology/dorsey_techonomy/ Take a look at the way he splits the days of his week into themes. Each of his 6 working days has a purpose. Monday: Management meetings and "running the company" work Tuesday: Product development Wednesday: Marketing, communications and growth Thursday: Developers and partnerships Friday: The company and its culture Saturday: (no work) Sunday: Big picture strategy But he then goes next level and splits his time between two companies by alternating mornings and afternoons in each office. The article mentions him working 16 hour days – 8 hrs at each company – but when Jack told the story himself, he said he was splitting mornings and afternoons between the companies. Monday Morning = Twitter Monday Afternoon = Square Tuesday Morning = Square Tuesday Afternoon = Twitter Wednesday Morning = Twitter etc This might be an approach you can think of taking. It means you make it clear what your schedule is, when you will be working on different aspects of each job, and then be incredibly disciplined about sticking to the schedule so other people can accommodate and work with you.KS
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Has anyone ever used proficient productivity/time management techniques besides the Pomodo one?
The Pomodoro method really is great, but it isn't the end all be all when it comes to time management. One of the important aspects of the Pomodoro method is that there is a clear start and stop time of your task. Another way that I like to use this methodology is with an app called brain.fm. It allows you to play brain wave music to help stimulate your productivity. That alone is good enough, but it also gives you a timer. Just focus on your task until the timer ends and the music stops. 30 minutes or an hour goes by in a flash when you're hyper-focused on a task. Give it a try and let me know what you think!C(
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What apps do you recommend for time tracking, accounting & project management?
I like Harvest both for time-tracking and for invoicing clients. It's simple, which I love.AG
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How much of a work day should be unique problem solving and what percentage is simply tasks such as following up?
It depends on your charter or mission as well as your long term vs. Short term objectives. If your mission involves a larger more expansive view - then you will need to spend a lot more time on unique problem solving that has a strong potential ROI feeding the fulfillment of the mission. It kind of boils down to ROI (return on investment) vs. risk for me: I look at the ROI and risk (opportunity cost) for almost everything that I choose to do - this helps me compare various choices for what to focus on daily, weekly, monthly and yearly. Having clear objectives for the month, week and year also help in selecting what percentage of time as per your question. If the solution of this problem feeds the fulfillment of your objectives vs. the solution of this problem prevents a risky situation: that may be the question to answer. I hope this helps. Feel free to interact so that I can delve into the complexities and nuances that are inevitably there.SB
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How can entrepreneurs deal with information overload?
Keep your head down and work on your own project. Stop being a spectator to what other people are up to. Ignore all the noise. Start unsubscribing from mailing lists. Delete your memberships at social media platforms, or at least stop logging in. Stop paying attention to Twitter feeds. Treat them like TV channels. Watching TV and following tweets is not entrepreneurship! Want to read? Read a book. Divide your email into critical and non-critical inboxes. Make yourself a rule not to check the optional inbox except on Friday evenings between 4 and 9 p.m. With any luck, you'll be enjoying life too much to bother. Friday nights are a good laboratory for testing those priorities. Force your inbox and twitter feeds to compete for attention with your significant other, and see who wins! Soon you'll recognize how unimportant that stuff is. Information overload is an excuse addicts make for their addiction. It's akin to compulsive rubbish hoarding or an all-day TV binge. Endlessly following the latest startups is no different from endlessly following celebrity gossip. Just because the people you read about are accomplishing things does not mean you are. If you have any ambition, then you can create something while ignoring what other people are doing and saying. A novelist or an inventor will keep busy on their own work to an almost hermit-like extent. If 100 people started throwing 100 objects toward you simultaneously in a hopelessly mismatched game of dodge ball, why would you be under any obligation to catch them all? Stop paying attention. Stop following. Lead! Do something!JP
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